Sceptre test-purchasing of knives carried out in North Herts

An underage test purchase of knives in North Herts was carried out as part of a national knife crime initiative called Sceptre.

Knife-related crime remains lower in Hertfordshire than in other parts of the country, but the campaign aims to reinforce the message that carrying a knife is illegal and will not help to keep you safe.

The test purchases took place at stores in Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock and Royston last week.

Student volunteers from the North Herts College Uniformed and Protective Services course assisted officers with the operation, which involved two under-18 students attempting to buy a knife without identification. On four out of five attempts, the students were refused a purchase due to having no age confirming documents. Following the attempt, officers then debriefed the stores about the test purchase outcomes.

Community Safety Unit Sergeant Chris Adshead said: “We saw an 80 percent pass rate from the test purchase operation, which was pleasing, however there is work to do for those who failed.

“The message is positive in that from previous test purchasing we have carried out, stores are really tightening up their procedures and it was great to see most had seen advice letters sent out reminding them about age checking any such sale and advising future test purchasing will be carried out.

“We’d also like to thank students from North Herts College who volunteered for the initiative and hope it gave them a real insight into aspects of policing.”